Hey guys! Sorry it's taken me so long to write the next chapter of the story. I needed to watch some Army Wives to get inspired again and make sure I portrayed the characters the way I wanted to. I have to make sure I do them justice. Thanks for following! Reviews are welcomed! Keep in Mind, if you are a fan of the Holden Family, you may not want to continue to read my story. I'm a Holden family fan, myself, but I also found inspiration in the idea of Denise and Claudia Joy and as a writer, I had to explore the possibilities.

Denise had been thrilled when Claudia Joy kissed her and confessed that she wanted all the same things Denise did, but it didn't take Denise long to figure out that Claudia Joy was scared. She wondered if Claudia Joy had only said that because Denise almost died. She had been home from the hospital for a week and for the most part, Claudia Joy hadn't left her side. Today was different. Today, she had errands to run, FRG responsibilities to attend to, and a lunch meeting with Michael to plan for an upcoming post banquet. Now, she had given Denise far too much time to think about their situation. Worse, she had given Denise too much time to question whether Claudia Joy really wanted the same things she did.

"Mom?" She heard the front door open and she stood up quickly.

"Jeremy? " She walked around the corner and there stood her son, still in his uniform and carrying a bag. "Oh honey, what are you doing here? You're supposed to be in Afghanistan with your father." She wrapped her arms around her son, happy to see him.

"I was, but when he and I heard about your accident, I asked for leave and it got approved. I'm home for the next few days and then I'll have to report back, but Dad and I needed to know you were okay," said Jeremy. "What the heck happened to you?"

"I was hit head on by a pick-up truck and then t-boned by another car," Denise explained. "From what the doctors tell me, I nearly died. I was unconscious for four days."

"Yeah, that's what Mrs. Holden and General Holden told us when we talked to them on video chat. General Holden said not to worry that Mrs. Holden was taking care of you like always, but Dad and I just couldn't shake the feeling that you weren't okay. He wanted to be here, and he wrote you a letter. It's in my bag. There was just a lot going on down there and he couldn't get away so I volunteered to come back."

"Well thank you, Jeremy, but it wasn't necessary Honey. I'm doing just fine and Mrs. Holden is taking great care of me. She just stepped out to run some errands and get some stuff done," Denise said, struggling to hide the truth from her son.

Jeremy hugged her again, a little tighter this time. "I'm just so glad you're okay, Mom. We were so worried. If something happened to you, Dad and I would never live with ourselves. You are the glue that holds this family together, you know that."

"I'm not going anywhere Jeremy, but I really wouldn't say I'm the glue," she said, smiling. "You and your Dad are very important parts of this family too and you'd survive without me. You're two of the strongest men I know. You two would have to lean on each other and support each other through the loss, but you'd make it."

"Don't even talk like that, Mom. I don't want to even consider the possibility of you dying," Jeremy said, walking over with her to the couch and sitting down. He opened up his bag and handed her the letter from Frank. "I'm going to go take a shower and give you some time to read the letter from Dad." He kissed the top of her head. "I love you Mom."

Denise smiled at her son; he was a totally different person from the boy that used to abuse her only a year ago. "I love you too, Jeremy." She waited for Jeremy to leave the room and then she opened the letter.

Dee-

Baby, you have no idea how relived I am that you're okay. It's the scariest thing in the world, getting that call from General Holden and Claudia Joy that something had happened to you. Is that what you go through every time something happens to me over here? I'm so sorry for that. Oh Dee, I just couldn't imagine my life, Jeremy's life, without you in it. You are the light in our world, and without you this world would be a much darker place. I love you so much, Dee. You've got to promise me you'll be more careful. I can't be worried that I'm stuck over here doing my job with no way to get back to you and you're over there getting hit by cars and nearly dying on me. You can't leave me. You promised me forever, Dee, and I intend to hold you to that promise.

I promise, I'll call soon. I'm sorry things have been so busy over here and I haven't been able to call as much as I'd like, but I love you. As for everything else, we still have a lot to work through and deal with, but you have to stick around for that to happen.

All my love,

Frank

Denise sat for the longest time, just staring at the paper. After Frank found out about her transgressions, he had been so angry. She thought he'd never speak to her again and now because she nearly died, it seemed like she had back the Frank she had fallen in love with all those years ago. There was the man she'd always loved; she couldn't help but feel the smallest twinge of guilt, considering the secret she and Claudia Joy were holding back from Frank and Michael.

Frank had always been a good man. He'd given her and Jeremy an amazing life, and yes, he wasn't around often because of his career, but she knew deep down that he loved her. She had been so wrong to cheat on him and do the things she's done, but then her mind flashed to Claudia Joy, and she knew she loved her too. Not the way she loved Frank, though. Over the years, that love had changed; the love she felt for Claudia Joy was something far more passionate and powerful. She couldn't put into words, the love she had for Claudia Joy. The woman had completely turned her world upside down and there was nothing she could do to change that. Somehow, someway, she was going to need to make a decision. Would she stay with Frank and try to work things out again? Or would she tell Frank the truth and choose a life with Claudia Joy? Something inside her told her she already knew what her heart wanted to do, but she couldn't help but worry that Claudia Joy wouldn't be able to make the same choice.

Don't worry it won't take me as long to update again! Chapter 5 should be posted sometime later today or at the latest, tomorrow! Please review! Hope you guys enjoyed this chapter. Sorry it's so short, but it seemed like the perfect chapter to show just a little more conflict. These two are not going to be all sunshine and roses, they will definitely face some trials. The question is, will they end up together or will they stay with Michael and Frank?